by Rex Clementine   

Sri Lanka are licking their wounds after Tuesday’s heartbreak at RPS as Zimbabwe came from behind to square the three-match series. Today’s final T-20 International at the same venue decides the series. It’s been a closely contested series so far and Zimbabwe are no longer pushovers, you may think. Really!

However, the fact of the matter is that this Zimbabwe side were recently beaten by Uganda, and they failed to qualify for this year’s T-20 World Cup. Tuesday’s four wicket win is Zimbabwe’s first ever victory over Sri Lanka in T-20 cricket.

In mid 90s, Australia were our biggest rivals in cricket. Then a decade later, India were our fiercest opponents. Nowadays it seems people are quite content when our team beat Bangladesh. Is the day going to dawn when we will be happy beating Zimbabwe? Woe be the day that happens. A proud cricketing nation has fallen from the high pedestal.

Wanindu Hasaranga has been hailed for the attacking brand of cricket that he plays but his arrogance leads to dumbness and probably cost Sri Lanka Tuesday’s encounter.

Hasaranga had two part-time bowlers who had to fill four overs between them. Ideally, the captain should have held back Dushmantha Chameera or Dilshan Madushanka for the final over, but he is so obsessed with Angelo Mathews that he trusted him to bowl the final over on a belter with 20 runs needed.

In modern day cricket, 20 runs in the last over is achievable.

Dasun Shanaka perhaps would have been a better choice for he has done it before and proved his mettle. But since Hasaranga was instrumental in bringing Mathews back in to the side he is keen to prove that his choice is the right one. On the other hand, he may have an axe to grind with Dasun Shanka and it could be that he is trying to avoid his predecessor like a plague.

Smart captains get the best out of all resources. It’s no secret that Kumar Sangakkara didn’t see eye to eye with T.M. Dilshan, but the smart cookie he is, he knew how to get the best out of Dilshan. Wanindu should follow suit too although those boots of Sanga are pretty large to fill.

Bringing Mathews back into T-20 cricket was a good move. But don’t treat him like superman. Inside the power play, Sri Lanka had collapsed losing four wickets for 27 runs. It would have been something like 100 all out, a familiar scenario for Sri Lankan cricket in recent years. But Mathews bailed them out with a record fifth wicket stand batting alongside Charith Asalanka.

Mathews is there to ensure there aren’t collapses like before and the team had decent totals. He is ideal at number six given his ability to clear the ropes in the death overs. Yes, there are a few issues in his game. He declined about ten runs on Tuesday and was not able to keep pace with young Asalanka. Maybe he needs to work on running between the wickets before the World Cup.

Mathews has already won you a game in the series and has got you a decent total in the second game. That is what he’s there to do and not bowl the last over.

Of course, he provides you with a bowling option and that option should have been done away with the new ball.

Clearly, Hasaranga got a few things wrong on Tuesday night. He will be better off listening to a few people. Rely more on his deputy and get the thoughts of the wicketkeeper who’s probably got the best view.

Sri Lanka also has some 14-support staff inside the dressing room. They’ll be better off taking a more proactive approach rather than let things move on.